Skip to content
Nivala
Guide: GST billing for cafés

GST billing for a café, without the confusion.

A café in India gives one of three bills: a tax invoice, a bill of supply or a plain receipt, depending on how it is registered for GST. Your billing software should make the right one every time, number them in order and give your CA the totals. Nivala does that. It does not file your return or give tax advice.

The three bills, in plain words

Tax invoice. For a café registered for GST under the regular scheme. It shows the GST on the bill.

Bill of supply. For a café under the composition scheme. It does not charge GST to the guest.

Plain receipt. For a café not registered for GST.

You set this once in Nivala’s tax profile. After that, every bill comes out the same way, numbered in order.

What good GST billing software does

  • Makes the right bill type for your registration, every time
  • Numbers bills in order
  • Records refunds against the original order, not as a new sale
  • Shows the bill on screen when there is no printer
  • Gives your CA the sales and tax as a download

What Nivala leaves to your CA

  • There is no service-charge line on the bill. If your café adds one, enter it as a menu item and check its GST with your CA.
  • Nivala does not make an e-invoice or print an IRN. A café above the e-invoicing limit needs another tool; check your limit with your CA.
  • Nivala does not file or prepare your GST returns. You get CSV downloads for your CA.
  • Nivala does not make a bill or tax invoice for orders that come through delivery apps such as Swiggy or Zomato. You can type or paste each one at the counter so the kitchen gets it and it is in the day’s numbers. Ask your CA how to record the tax.
  • Every bill is a sale within your café’s own state. Sales to other states are not supported.

Try it on your own menu

Create your café, set your tax profile, add a few dishes and print or show a practice bill. Compare it with a bill you gave yesterday. Setup and practice are free. You pay when you go live. More on the counter: counter billing and GST bills. Questions: hello@thenivala.com.

Questions owners ask

What is GST billing software for a café?
It is café billing software that makes each bill in the form your GST registration needs, numbers the bills in order, and gives your accountant the totals and tax for the return. Nivala makes numbered tax invoices, bills of supply or plain receipts, as your café’s tax profile says, and gives you CSV downloads for your CA.
Tax invoice or bill of supply: which does my café give?
It depends on how your café is registered for GST. A business registered under the regular scheme usually issues a tax invoice. A business under the composition scheme usually issues a bill of supply, which charges no GST to the guest. A business not registered for GST gives a plain receipt. Ask your CA which applies to you, then set it once in Nivala’s tax profile.
Does Nivala file my GST return?
No. Nivala does not file or prepare GST returns. You get CSV downloads of your sales and tax, and your CA files the return.
Does Nivala make e-invoices with an IRN?
No. Nivala does not make an e-invoice or print an IRN. A café above the e-invoicing limit needs another tool. Check your limit with your CA.
Do I need a printer for GST bills?
No. A printer is optional. Bills can be shown on the screen. If you have a printer, it must work with Chrome or Edge.
Is GST added to the Nivala subscription price?
No. Starter is ₹999 a month per café. Plus is ₹1,299 a month per café. This is the final amount. GST is not charged.

Set up and practise free. Pay when you go live.

Starter is ₹999 a month per café. Plus is ₹1,299 a month per café. This is the final amount. GST is not charged. There is no free trial.

Create your café